Hey, some of us like inverted controls! If anything can be said about Luigi's Mansion's length, it makes it good for multiple plays. Not to mention one-day speed run races. I got together with like 6 other friends to play Luigi's Mansion simultaneously in the same room. Everyone's final time was taken, and then they had time subtracted for how much money they ended with. Good times.

Super Paper Mario, despite its gameplay flaws, at least had really funny writing and good characters. Sticker Star had an excuse plot to the core. There was very little writing and very few characters. I feel like the turn-based RPG battles with action commands, the badge system, and the humor are defining elements of Paper Mario and they've all been gotten rid of since The Thousand Year Door. The whole "everything you do is an item" system made me sad, too. It completely ruins the element of collection and advancement. If you find an awesome badge in Paper Mario, it's yours and you should be excited. If you find a Flashy Infinijump sticker, you can use it once and it's gone (and you can one-shot just about any boss if you have rhythm).

Hey, some of us like inverted controls! If anything can be said about Luigi's Mansion's length, it makes it good for multiple plays. Not to mention one-day speed run races. I got together with like 6 other friends to play Luigi's Mansion simultaneously in the same room. Everyone's final time was taken, and then they had time subtracted for how much money they ended with. Good times.

Super Paper Mario, despite its gameplay flaws, at least had really funny writing and good characters. Sticker Star had an excuse plot to the core. There was very little writing and very few characters. I feel like the turn-based RPG battles with action commands, the badge system, and the humor are defining elements of Paper Mario and they've all been gotten rid of since The Thousand Year Door. The whole "everything you do is an item" system made me sad, too. It completely ruins the element of collection and advancement. If you find an awesome badge in Paper Mario, it's yours and you should be excited. If you find a Flashy Infinijump sticker, you can use it once and it's gone (and you can one-shot just about any boss if you have rhythm).

When it comes to inverted controls, I really only prefer them in flying games.As for Luigi's mansion, I'm not sure if your talking about the original or the second game, but I have the original and I must say I played that game to death. I also didn't find it to be all that short either, it took me a little while to beat it anyways.I've never played the new Paper Mario game, but I have it for the Wii, so I'll probably sit down and play it at some point. I do have The Thousand Year door however, and can say that I've played that one to death as well. I loved everything about the controls, the gameplay, and the story. Just an overall wonderful game.

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Wed Jan 02, 2013 4:17 pm

Sleet

Bringing Foxy Back

Joined: Thu Apr 29, 2010 1:32 amPosts: 16891Location: Nephelokokkygia

Re: Discussion: Video Games

The first two Paper Mario games were fantastic. I didn't like how the partners worked as much in TTYD but generally both games had so little wrong with them it's not funny.

Super Paper Mario is worth playing for the humor and little else, in my opinion.

Super Paper Mario was my favorite one actually, since it brought RPG leveling to basic platforming ideas, and the story and villains were great.

On the topic of Sticker Star, it is alright, but I am getting rather annoyed at how bosses and real item stickers work in that game. You have to use the right sticker on the right spot to solve puzzles, where you may wonder, why not try everything? Because you lose the sticker if you get it wrong, and you may not have the right sticker in the first place. Some of the puzzles are very vague as well, so it almost requires the use of the Internet. The bosses are pretty much invincible to all your attacks until you hit them with a specific sticker which you probably don't have when you enter the fight. They take about 1/3 the damage of every other sticker, yet have 30 times the health. It takes all the stickers you have, and probably more to defeat a boss without the right item, so you have to game over, head back to the city and get a sticker, and head back through their lair to finally give it a shot. Poor design decision. :< On the good side of it, it provides you with all the stickers you will need for normal combat, so the item system, apart from the frustrating real world item stickers is good enough for me.

I didn't play much of the Paper Mario series (Thanks to the Playstation), but I got through most of the Thousand Star and liked it, but I still have many fond memories of the Legend of the Seven Stars series. Booster, Square/Nintendo in one, and the secrets. Oh, god. the secrets.

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Thu Jan 03, 2013 11:39 am

Sleet

Bringing Foxy Back

Joined: Thu Apr 29, 2010 1:32 amPosts: 16891Location: Nephelokokkygia

Re: Discussion: Video Games

Paper Mario for the N64 (and downloadable on the Wii) had a lot of stylistic similarities to SMRPG. I would recommend it.

FlintTheSquirrel Wrote:

Super Paper Mario was my favorite one actually, since it brought RPG leveling to basic platforming ideas, and the story and villains were great.

I'll admit I'm biased since I adored the Paper Mario gameplay and I lamented it changing so much, but YES, the villains were fantastic. Better than the villains in the previous two (otherwise superior) games.

Hey guys, I got Solatorobo: Red the Hunter a couple days ago and I've been playing it since.

It's awesome, the characters are cool, the story's good so far and the art's reminiscent of an anthro anime that doesn't exist but I wish did. The battle style is interesting (standard action battles but they occur in specific areas and you don't have weapons to speak of, just the ability to grab and throw your enemies) and the main way to get money is by doing side quests from handing out pamphlets to fighting on a duel ship. I think it's awesome but I can see how it might not be for everyone.

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Hey guys, I got Solatorobo: Red the Hunter a couple days ago and I've been playing it since.

It's awesome, the characters are cool, the story's good so far and the art's reminiscent of an anthro anime that doesn't exist but I wish did. The battle style is interesting (standard action battles but they occur in specific areas and you don't have weapons to speak of, just the ability to grab and throw your enemies) and the main way to get money is by doing side quests from handing out pamphlets to fighting on a duel ship. I think it's awesome but I can see how it might not be for everyone.

I've only heard about that game series recently and from what I've seen it looks really cool Can anyone give me their own opinions on the games? What are they like? Are they worth buying/playing? (obviously I'm not going to let any of this influence whether or not I buy/play the games, but I'd still like some second opinions)

Well there are two games in the series. Tail Concerto for the PSone and Solotorobo: Red the Hunter for the DS. Both of them have similar game mechanics and share the same universe. Both games are beautiful on their respective systems, with Solotorobo in particular having some of the best graphics on the DS. The combat in Solotorobo is quite simple. All you really need to do is pick up and throw enemies to deal damage while avoiding their attacks and projectiles. You do this while riding a mech, which can be upgraded with money earned from battles and side quests. You can get out of the mech and walk around on foot, which you will need to do to solve various puzzles. Overall, the gameplay mechanics are solid and compliment the game rather well.

Solotorobo is also a very long game. When you beat what feels like the final boss and all of the plot points are neatly wrapped up, it slaps you with a new anime intro and throws you back in the game. In this way, the game is largely divided into two parts. The story can be a little slow going in the first half of the game, but it gets very gripping towards the second half of the game. The story itself is everything you would expect from a Japanese game; it is very anime-like. It will present you with charming characters and tug at your heart strings at just the right moments.

Overall, you can't go wrong with Solotorobo. It is one of the best games on the Nintendo DS. Looking back at the original PSone title, it holds up very much the same. The threat is much smaller in Tail Concerto (Kitten Pirates) and the story is a lot more goofy and light-hearted. It is not a very long game, but it excels in everything it sets out to do. Tracking down a copy of Tail Concerto would prove difficult though. The game was published by Atlus, the harbinger of rare games. They do great game localizations, but have very limited production runs. Expect to pay $50 or more for a nice complete copy.

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Sat Jan 05, 2013 12:20 am

Nyaliva

Joined: Sat Feb 11, 2012 1:18 amPosts: 437Location: Australia

Re: Discussion: Video Games

Yay, I'm glad the story is both long and interesting! I had heard it was a very story-driven game so I knew if the story wasn't good the game wouldn't be worth the purchase for me. I love the upgrade mechanic, you have to unlock tiles on a grid by finding things and then you put different shaped blocks into it which affect different aspects and to a different degree based on their shape. it's like tetris but it makes your mech stronger! Also, you unlock all the music and videos of the game by various methods as you progress, as well as some cool art!

I don't know if the Japanese just have the wrong idea about the PAL regions but all the little character sound-bites are in French, which seems strange but I think it complements the style of the characters well.

Anyway, so far loving it!

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I don't know if the Japanese just have the wrong idea about the PAL regions but all the little character sound-bites are in French, which seems strange but I think it complements the style of the characters well.

I believe you are referring to Flo, the Quest Broker? She greets you in the same way on the NTSC version.The NTSC and PAL versions of games are identical in most cases.

_________________- Esquire Fox

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Sat Jan 05, 2013 11:29 am

Nyaliva

Joined: Sat Feb 11, 2012 1:18 amPosts: 437Location: Australia

Re: Discussion: Video Games

But even Red speaks French, most of the time when he enters a new conversation he says "Salut!" which is a French informal greeting. He says something else occasionally but I can't decipher it yet to determine if it's actually French.It makes even less sense for them to speak French on the NTSC version though! Maybe the Japanese think the French have taken over Western civilisation. Oh well, like I said, it matches well with the characters' personalities.

Esquire Fox Wrote:

The NTSC and PAL versions of games are identical in most cases.

Tell that to the people who regionised the Professor Layton series! The NTSC version gets a Luke whose voice is naturally deeper when he's older while we get squeaky Luke! Don't worry, I know you said "most".

EDIT: Actually, Chocolat's sound bites are reminiscent of Klonoa's brand of gibberish...But then Chocolat is French for chocolate...:shrug:

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I've been working on boxing my loose games in Universal Game Cases and Nintendo DS cases for some time now.Although I am currently out of the paper needed to make more, I am very satisfied with the result so far.

Unfortunately, the paper I need is European A4 specification Photo Paper, which I have been having a VERY hard time importing.I need 600 more sheets, but none of the businesses in the UK that I've contacted are willing to export the product to the United States.The UK has much better prices and shipping rates, but I'll probably have to have it shipped from Sweden via a relative.Either way, I can't wait to do more of these!

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Sat Jan 05, 2013 12:46 pm

exranio

Joined: Fri Aug 20, 2010 6:44 amPosts: 1147

Re: Discussion: Video Games

Even in all the japanese trailers they spoke bits of french, which I only recognize because I took french one. It's just the theme of the game. I'd say its' even safe to say that no matter what language you play the game in everyone is actually speaking french.

Solatorobo is set in the same timeline as both Tail Concerto and Mamoru-kun, being in a Post-Apocalyptic Earth setting where humans have gone extinct and beast people started living in floating islands. The story's setting is in Shepherd Republic where two races of people—the dog-like Caninu, and the cat-like Felineko live. The floating islands rest above a sea of Plasma. On such islands, French is the native language.

In other words, after the Apocalypse, we will all be speaking French... I knew they couldn't be trusted!

Hey guys it completely slipped my mind to post this before going to work today. Awsome Games Done Quick is going on right now AGDQ watch people play a bunch of really cool games as fast as they can and help out the Prevent Cancer Foundation. Donate if you are able!

Sun Jan 06, 2013 10:27 pm

Sleet

Bringing Foxy Back

Joined: Thu Apr 29, 2010 1:32 amPosts: 16891Location: Nephelokokkygia

Re: Discussion: Video Games

Anyone play Ace of Spades? My friends are trying to get me to play it.

My goal is to show everyone that they, too, can do what they love to do.

Daggy Wrote:

Look a shadowpriest, what a cutie.... POW

Mon Jan 07, 2013 5:18 am

Foxstar

BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU

Joined: Sun Aug 09, 2009 8:00 amPosts: 1689

Re: Discussion: Video Games

I finished up XCom and have gotten back into Tropico 4 for the time being. Playing that when at home and Persona 4 at work.

Mon Jan 07, 2013 12:05 pm

Sleet

Bringing Foxy Back

Joined: Thu Apr 29, 2010 1:32 amPosts: 16891Location: Nephelokokkygia

Re: Discussion: Video Games

Man, I just finished reading the last issue of Nintendo Power (I used to read it every month) and it got me really nostalgic. I miss the days when all my friends would play Nintendo games and we'd get excited about new releases and I would always have people to play multiplayer games with. Nowadays my friends just play Steam and occasionally Xbox 360. Not to say that games aren't good on those, but I just miss the truly social aspect gaming had for me back then...

I choose this chapter because it reminds me of like all my time gaming. No matter what game I played I was always trying to win, and would take every strategy and abusive method to do so that I knew to get it. Sure it ticked off some friends because I was doing good stuff they couldn't or wouldn't do. But I still won.

Actually, it will be physical print. I'm not sure how they'll pull all this off, but I'm rooting for them.First issue should be finished this January and they'll be announcing the subscription rates soon.

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Mon Jan 07, 2013 9:12 pm

Beagle

Joined: Thu Jun 24, 2010 10:09 pmPosts: 1641Location: North Carolina

Re: Discussion: Video Games

I'm going to guess that so many people raised cain about the end of Nintendo Power that other people just as high up in the world of video game journalism decided there would be enough momentum to start their own sort of spin-off, Nintendo Force.

If it gets enough publicity and it's actually pretty decent, I do see this thriving. And if it tanks, that will mean more people turning to Game Informer.

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Mon Jan 07, 2013 9:30 pm

Sleet

Bringing Foxy Back

Joined: Thu Apr 29, 2010 1:32 amPosts: 16891Location: Nephelokokkygia

Re: Discussion: Video Games

I think that's an unwise decision, trying to make it physical. There's a reason Nintendo Power is going under, and it's not Nintendo Power sucking.

As a journalist, I can tell you there hasn't been a ton of success making online-only periodicals profitable. People will ignore or block ads whenever possible and to make up for lost revenue through increased subscription fees would turn away a lot of would-be buyers.

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Wow, that game footage looks amazing! I may actually get this one. If so, it'll be the first time I'll be torn between the Grass and the Fire starters since gen 2 (after that I only really liked the grass starters if any).

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Looks like they are going back to the old formula of 2 main versions and a follow up special version.Pokemon X & Y have to be followed by Pokemon Z.

Then again, we never got Pokemon Gray despite the third legendary obviously being gray.Pokemon X2 & Y2 anybody?

_________________- Esquire Fox

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Tue Jan 08, 2013 12:26 pm

IceKitsune

Joined: Mon Apr 26, 2010 1:35 pmPosts: 4687Location: Ohio

Re: Discussion: Video Games

Esquire Fox Wrote:

Looks like they are going back to the old formula of 2 main versions and a follow up special version.Pokemon X & Y have to be followed by Pokemon Z.

Then again, we never got Pokemon Gray despite the third legendary obviously being gray.Pokemon X2 & Y2 anybody?

Its likely going to go back to three versions again so its going to be Z. IIRC the only reason they did Black 2 and White 2 was because it was the only way Nintendo would let them do another game on the regular DS.

This is what I've been hoping Pokemon would turn into for a very long time. Nintendo, don't fail me now!

And as a fire-type trainer, I approve of the new starter. X3

I'm itching to see what their evolved forms look like.

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Tue Jan 08, 2013 8:49 pm

Beagle

Joined: Thu Jun 24, 2010 10:09 pmPosts: 1641Location: North Carolina

Re: Discussion: Video Games

I hope the fire-type has the most majestically fluffy tail its body can possibly support. It needs to make up for Tempig.

_________________Let me tell you about Homestuck.

Tue Jan 08, 2013 8:58 pm

KJOokami

Joined: Sat Jun 04, 2011 12:36 amPosts: 1707Location: West Philly

Re: Discussion: Video Games

It's unfortunate for me that this new Pokemon game looks so promising, seeing as I don't have a 3DS and I'm not gonna be buying one any time soon.

They seem to have made a complete graphical overhaul, and quite frankly it looks unbelievably good. The style they've gone with works incredibly well with the game; the areas look phenomenal in full 3D, the colors are bright and vibrant, and the character models actually have torsos! Also, if the picture of the main character looking in a mirror is any indication (good gracious I hope it's an indication), this game may actually feature the ability to customize your character's look a little bit.

When I do finally pick up one of these games, I'm pretty positive I'll get the fire starter. The water one looks more like a cloud than a frog (and it's not like we'vealreadyseen frogs/toads in this series before or anything...), and I'm not even sure what the grass type is supposed to be. The face looks like a beaver, the back legs look like a shrew (Sandslash anyone?), and it seems to be wearing a headdress made of grass or something? I dunno. But the fire starter being a fox is fantastic. And unlike Vulpix/Ninetails, this one appears that it may legitimately be part psychic (or ghost?), which is neat.

It's unfortunate for me that this new Pokemon game looks so promising, seeing as I don't have a 3DS and I'm not gonna be buying one any time soon.

October isn't any time soon. Take your time.

But seriously, this is basically Nintendo's best attempt at getting people to upgrade to the 3DS.Pokemon has been a powerful driving force in handheld console adaption since as far back as the Gameboy.More consoles means more games sales and more profit for Nintendo.

Speaking of Pokemon for the 3DS, I'm also looking forward to Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Gates to Infinity.There's something about the Pokemon Mystery Dungeon series that is just so charming. I'm glad they are continuing it.

_________________- Esquire Fox

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Wed Jan 09, 2013 12:31 am

Sleet

Bringing Foxy Back

Joined: Thu Apr 29, 2010 1:32 amPosts: 16891Location: Nephelokokkygia

Re: Discussion: Video Games

I AM SO FREAKING EXCITED.

These look great! The graphical upgrade is awesome, the new designs are great, and I'm just looking forward to it all around!

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